EDMONTON – Some people you just can’t replace.
Unfortunately for the Edmonton Oilers, they learned this lesson this season.
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What they also learned is that when everyone collectively works toward the game plan, the common goal, they can overcome any challenge created by a player’s absence.
They are going to have to repeat that in the wake of not having Mattias Ekholm available to them thus far in the playoffs.
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“I don’t think we’re ever going to replace an Ekholm,” Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Wednesday before leaving LA. “He gives us so much.”
Ekholm is a huge part of the Oilers team, not just their defensive group. More importantly, he is a vital part of the penalty kill unit.
He ranked third among Oilers defenders in total time on the penalty kill (135:52), despite only playing 65 games. Ekholm averaged 2:05 per game on the penalty kill.
Additionally, his offensive skills are undeniable. He and Darnell Nurse were tied for second in scoring among all Oilers blueliners. They both collected 33 points.
“The group that we have right now are doing a tremendous job of stepping up in his absence.”
Ty Emberson has been a rock on the penalty kill. Unfortunately for him, his most common penalty kill partner in the regular season was Ekholm.
The competitive nature of the playoffs has forced Kris Knoblauch to limit Emberson’s ice time in this opening playoff round, but he’s still averaging 2:19 of penalty kill time per game. The responsibility of shouldering Ekholm’s penalty kill load has fallen on Brett Kulak and Nurse, who average 2:22 and 2:44, respectively, on the penalty kill special teams unit.
Offensively, the newcomers Jake Walman and John Klingberg have added their talents to the Oilers team. They haven’t been collecting points like madmen, but each player has leaned into their strength of puck movement to significant effect, even if that hasn’t directly resulted in more goals.
“We’re very fortunate that the right move (at the trade deadline) was to trade for a guy like Walman,” Knoblauch revealed to reporters on Wednesday. “Walman being a great fit for us.”
“He’s been a strong addition to our team,” Knoblauch said about Klingberg, “and he’s been great back there.”
While no single player can replace what Ekholm can bring to the table, they have the pieces in place to band together and make the most of an unfortunate injury situation.
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